Allen w



(No Model.)

A. W. ADAMS.

FOLDING OPERA CHAIR. No. 258,688. Patented May 80, 1882.

PATENT OFFICE.

ALLEN W. ADAMS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

FOLDING OPERA-CHAIR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 258,688, dated May 30, 1882.

Application filed February 3, 1882. (No model.)

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALLEN W. ADAMS, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Folding Opera-Chairs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to folding chairs for theaters, lecture-rooms, or other similar places, and especially that class of chairs wherein both the back and seat are arranged to fold for the purpose of dividing or converting the entire floor-space into aisles.

My invention consists in the combination, with suitable standards, of a folding back which is hinged on one ofits vertical edges to swing rearward in a horizontal plane, and a folding seat, which is hinged onone ofits side edges to swing vertically in a lateral direction, so that the back and seat are capable of being brought parallel to each other, leaving the space between the chair-standards entirely free, while the parts, at the same time being independent of each other, maybe constructed in any usual manner, requiring no special size or shape. The standard intermediate of each two chairs is hinged to the folding seat of one chair to swing or fold up therewith, thus rendering the free or aisle space equal to the width of two chairs.

This invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view showing portions of two rows of chairs, with the backs of two chairs of one row swung or unfolded to a rear position. Fig. 2 is a front view, showing the upper position of the seats and intermediate standard. Fig. 3 isa crosssection, showingthe parts folded to a normal position.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.

The letter Adesignates a portion of the floor of a theater or other similar place, such floor being usually madein form ofsteps, as indicated in Fig. 3, each containing a row of chairs.

B designates the chair-backs; O, the chairseats, andD D D the'standards oftwo chairs. The back B of each chair is hinged to the appropriate standard on,one of its vertical edges, as at 5, while the seat 0, concomitant to such back, is hinged to the same standard, on one of its side edges, as at 6, so that the back is adapted to swing rearward in a horizontal plane and the seat to swing upward in a lat eral direction; and it willbe seen that the parts are thus rendered capable of being adjusted or unfolded to a parallel plane alongside of their carryingstandard, leaving thefloor-space gocupied by each chair approximately entirely ree.

In order to increase the area of the space produced, as last stated, by unfolding the chair backs and seats, the standard D, intermediate of two chairs, is hinged to the seat of either chair, as at 7, in a suitable manner to swing upward with such seat, as indicated in Fig. 2, the result being to create a space equal to the width of two chairs.

For the purpose of supporting or retaining the parts in their folded or unfolded positions, I employ ordinary contrivances, which will readily suggest themselves to a. skilled inechanic, and a detailed description whereof is therefore deemed unnecessary.

When the chair-seats are hinged independently of the standard D they maybe arranged to swing downward instead of upward.

I am aware that a chair has heretofore been made with afolding back and seat connected together, and both swinging laterally upward in unison with each other; but such chair requires a special shape or construction of the parts, especially the back; whereas byarranging the back and seat to swing independently of each other in the manner shown and described they can be shaped in any known manner.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, with suitable chair-standards, of the folding back hinged on one of its vertical edges to swing rearward in a horizontal plane and the folding seat hinged on one of its side edges independently of the folding back to swing in a lateral direction, for the purpose specified.

2. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore setforth, with the outer chair-standards, of the two folding backs hinged on one oftheir vertical edges and the two folding seats ICO hinged on one of their side edges to such my hand and seal in the presence of two sutstandards, independently (if the folding back, scribing witnesses. to form two chairs, and t e intermediate or folding standard hinged to the folding seat of ALLEN ADAMS 5 either chair to swing upward therewith, for Witnesses:

the purpose specified. J. VAN SANTVOORD, In testimony whereof I have hereunto set CHAS. WAHLERS. 

